Protestors break into Stansted Airport

Monday 8th December 2008

Environmental activists broke into Stansted Airport at quarter past three this morning, chaining themselves together near one of the runways.

Over 50 members of the green group Plane Stupid broke into the airport using bolt cutters while the runway was undergoing maintenance.

The runway was closed for two hours causing 21 flight cancellations before reopening at 0810 GMT.

A protester who withheld their name said: "We're here because our parents' generation has failed us and it's now down to young people to stop climate change by whatever peaceful means we have left.

"We're afraid of what the police might do to us, we're afraid of going to jail but nothing scares us as much as the threat of runaway climate change."

One passenger Jorg Tittel told the BBC: "I am all for fighting for our environment, but these kids have failed already. They are making thousands of travellers angry."